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NEWCASTLE CREATIVE WRITERS


Carol Gano - Boom
Racing across the expansive skies, was it sound or light that reached us first? The 'jagged white' hit our old red river gum right at the hollow where the elders had taken a coolamon from the younger tree's yielding bark. We used that tray on our wedding for berries and so, too, have all our offspring on their weddings, one by one. So frequently has it been oiled and cleaned and cherished that our care has imparted a soft, shiny tinge to its redness. Now the old tree is sh
Carol Gano
Oct 5, 20252 min read


David Gairdner
A voice exits sleep: "I had a bunch of flowers" I dreamed something else.
David Gairdner
Sep 30, 20251 min read


David Gairdner
The candle store scents, They will last longer than life, if you're not careful.
David Gairdner
Sep 30, 20251 min read


Ricci Schwarzler - Spark
‘You’re a bright spark’ he said nastily. ‘Am I?’ I said proudly ‘Dont be smart with me Missy!’ ‘But my name is Jodie, not Missy and I can’t help being smart.’ ‘I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU! How dare you question me and come up with ideas in front of the other people in the meeting.’ ‘But actually, you asked if anyone had any other ideas…and I did.’ ‘THAT WASN’T A QUESTION FOR PEOPLE TO ANSWER’ ‘Oh so it was rhetorical.’ ‘NO you idiot, it was just a question you ask but you don’t ne
Ricci Schwarzler
Sep 29, 20252 min read


David Gairdner - Spark
Spider's cathedral: Rainbows unbent shaping light, Sparkled stigmata.
David Gairdner
Sep 29, 20251 min read


Ricci Schwarzler - Panda
I’m staring out from my hidey hole. Leaves protect me. They can’t see me. Those great big fat black and white things. Munching non-stop on the leaves. My God there’ll be none left. No wonder they are soooo fat. I look at the leaves hiding me. There are so many of them. I can’t believe they haven’t headed over to them and discovered me. I look longingly at the leaves that are hiding me. I’ve eaten all the others around me. Time to start on these ones. It doesn’t matter if
Ricci Schwarzler
Sep 22, 20251 min read


David Gairdner
Sep 22, 20250 min read


Ricci Schwarzler - Exasperating 2
‘I’ve tried to tell him’ ‘And what does he say?’ ‘He keeps telling me “In his experience”, if I hear that once more I’m going to stab him with my pencil in true John Wick fashion. He’s an idiot. I don’t trust him. Something is just not quite right.’ ‘Hmm I know what you mean. It’s as if he’s playing a part and saying sentences that he doesn’t understand or if he does he’s certainly not going to deliver on, but they sound impressive.’ ‘Yep, agree. He’s a Hollowman and
Ricci Schwarzler
Sep 15, 20251 min read


David Gairdner - Exasperating
Exasperating, exacerbating milieu, tripping down or up.
David Gairdner
Sep 15, 20251 min read


Ricci Schwarzler - Exasperating
I’m five years old and I know what I want. I want to be a ballerina. I love watching it on telly, twirling and jumping and looking ever so graceful. I’m five, I know I can do those fancy moves too and I want those pointe shoes. None of those ballet slippers for me, I know what I want. I discussed this regularly with Mummy whilst we were watching TV, whilst she was cooking the dinner, whilst she was washing up, cleaning, ironing, cleaning the fish tank and mowing the lawn. I
Ricci Schwarzler
Sep 15, 20252 min read


Ricci Schwarzler - Kefir
I’ve been asked if I wanted some Kefir. I knew what it was, but I had no idea that you actually grew the stuff. I picked up my jar of Kefir without really noticing. I popped it into the car and drove home. When I got home, I walked into the kitchen and put it on the bench, and noticed with alarm that the glass jar was looking rather concerned. I looked closer at it and then noticed that the Kefir was looking out with evil intent…even though it doesn’t have a face. Every littl
Ricci Schwarzler
Sep 10, 20255 min read


Laura Weynton - Lemon
Gemma and Michael are playing with a lemon in a sock. When life gives you lemons make lemonade. When life gives you trauma, become an...
Laura Weynton
Sep 8, 20251 min read


Kevan Smith – Lemon
“It’s such an easy subject—fruit—I mean there are so many all around us. They even name record companies after them. And that singer, you know, the one that got shot for crossing the road with the other band members.” “A band member called Lemon???” “Yeah, he was famous for staying in bed with his girlfriend who couldn’t sing, the Japanese one. Had a son called Julie. Even wrote a song about him, you know the one. He owned a submarine the same colour and even had a d
Kevan Smith
Sep 8, 20251 min read


Vesna McMaster - Lemon
‘You got yourself a right lemon there.’ He stood squinting at the aging Ford Focus in the driveway. ‘Look at that! Barely legal.’ He kicked at the front left. ‘It seems OK, Dad. A few dings and bings, not a big deal. I checked the history.’ ‘Hmph.’ He makes a sound like a badger clearing its throat. ‘Shall I take you for a spin?’ Mel Waves invitingly towards the passenger seat. ‘Nah, might never make it out.’ He laughs in Superior Masculinity, and pats a corpulence of

Vesna McMaster
Sep 8, 20252 min read


Michael Collins – Lemon
“You can’t hang ten on a lemon.” This was an ad. I actually forget what for. Hang Ten may have been a T-shirt? Not sure. My good friend since primary school told me that ‘lemons’ were surfies. He was a surfie. Pretty sure the last type of individual ‘lemons’ referred to were surfies. The very last. I think he was confused by the ‘hang ten’ allusion which has something to do with surfboards and waves…though maybe I am confusing that with Deltans masterpiece… Hanging Five… w
Michael Collins
Sep 8, 20252 min read


David Gairdner – Lemon
- Citron is French for lemon. - My mother didn’t know that, but she knew she liked leather seating. In her sophisticated...
David Gairdner
Sep 8, 20251 min read


Ricci Schwarzler - Lemon
They gathered under the light of the blood moon. Well, it was a dull red light but a light nonetheless. George looked around at his brethren. They were there to pray and adore the red moon. He spoke to his brethren every day. They hung around, all day and all night. They just wouldn't leave. Actually, he couldn't get rid of them. Sometimes they would bump into him and annoy him. Quite frankly he was over this praying to a blood moon nonsense. They would hang about naked with
Ricci Schwarzler
Sep 8, 20252 min read


Wenjun Guo - Lemon
Speaking Lemon always remains me of a TV show. There were a grandpa and a grandson, they were sitting at the waiting room as the...
Wenjun Guo
Sep 8, 20251 min read


Lachlan Miles – Lemon
Lemon, my sweet Pour yourself into me Revel in the science of A heart flung Ever-uselessly trying to be Free I’m out again But what is...
Lachlan Miles
Sep 8, 20251 min read


Carol Gano - Lemon
Who’s a lemon? I’m a lemon. Oh. Oh. Yeah, of course you are I can see that! But, you’re not green. You sure you’re not a lime? No. I tell you I’m a lemon. Just give me some sun—I’ll be yellow yet. Sure. That’s what they all say! And you should talk. You’re not yellow either. What colour do you call that ? I’m beyond purple, it’s called ultra violet. Pounce! The next thing you’ll say it that you’re a berry. But I am! I’m a Blue berry. Right! Aren’t Blueberries supposed to be
Carol Gano
Sep 8, 20251 min read
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